Paul Jordan jailed for estranged wife’s murder

A man who killed his estranged wife, believing she was having an affair, has been jailed for at least fourteen years.

BT worker Paul Jordan from Y Felinheli was found guilty of the murder of Betty Jordan at her home in Maesgeirchen, Bangor last July. The 54 year-old claimed it was manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Jordan was sentenced to life in prison – but a judge told him he will be considered for parole once he has served a minimum term of fourteen years.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the Jordans went to Chester Races two days before the murder, when they came across a man who was accused of being in a relationship with Mrs Jordan, although there was no evidence to support this belief.

Family photo: North Wales Police

Mr Jordan was said to be angered by this and drove from his flat to their married home at Trem y Garnedd and stabbed Mrs Jordan once in the upper chest as she lay in bed. She died from her injuries in hospital.

Mr Jordan spent several hours in the Porth Penrhyn area after the murder, but was arrested by police as he returned to Y Felinheli.

During the trial, the court heard Mr Jordan, a former school governor, was suffering from an abnormality of brain function since the death of a close friend. He had been referred to mental health services just weeks before the murder. He did not give evidence to the jury.

A psychologist told the trial he believed the defendant had become increasingly paranoid and obsessed about his wife and claimed he had evidence to prove she was having an affair.

The couple, originally from County Tipperary, had moved from Dublin to North Wales in 1983, but their relationship was strained by arguments and claims of domestic violence. Mr Jordan had moved out of their home in Maesgerichen and was living in a rented flat in Y Felinheli at the time of the murder.

The defence said Jordan was remorseful and sorry but still had no idea how events unfolded. He had accepted a life sentence would be imposed as a ‘penalty’ for what he had done.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Jordan now accepted there was no basis to his ”misplaced belief” that his wife has having an affair. He had also depended on alcohol but had sought professional help.

Sentencing him, Judge Rowlands told Jordan: ”There was a significant degree of premeditation on your part. The attack was planned – you left home intending to attack your wife.”

The defendant showed no emotion as he was led down from the dock to begin his sentence.

In a statement, Mrs Jordan’s family said there were ”simply no winners” and there was ”no verdict that a jury can decide upon or sentence that a judge can pass that can ever be called justice in these circumstances.”

They added they would always have ”amazing memories” of their mum and would pray ”that she can now finally rest in peace.”

The Jordans’ son Paul added: ”We as a family would like to take this opportunity to ask that, if you think someone you know may be suffering with mental health issues or alcohol dependency, that they are made aware of and offered the help available to them, even if it’s just having someone to talk to.”

”We ask this as if it even helps just one person or family in similar circumstances and prevents them going through what we have suffered and struggled with in these last nine months of mourning.”

Reacting to the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Brian Kearney said: ”Paul Martin Jordan has deprived his children of both their parents, and he now faces a number of years in prison where he’ll have to relive the terrible consequences of his violent and unprovoked assault last July.”

“It’s been clear during the trial that both alcohol and mental health issues have been an underlying factor. Unfortunately, we’ve seen both locally and nationally an increase in offences of violence where excess alcohol or an individual’s mental wellbeing have been a contributory factor.”

”There are a number of agencies and support groups that can assist and so if you need help, or you know someone that does, please reach out and possibly help prevent another family going through similar pain.”

”I now hope the family can move forward and attempt to rebuild their lives.”